Ball seat having fluid activated ball support

Abstract

Apparatuses for closing a well conduit comprise a housing having a longitudinal bore and a seat disposed within the bore. A chamber is disposed within the housing and includes a plug element support member, such as ram or piston, operatively associated within the chamber. The plug element support member has a retracted position and an extended position. A passageway is in fluid communication with the bore and the chamber. A plug element such as a ball or drop plug, is adapted to be disposed into the bore and landed on the seat to restrict fluid flow through the bore and the well conduit. Landing the plug element causes and allowing fluid pressure to build causes the plug element support member to move from the retracted position to the extended position to provide support to the plug element landed on the seat.

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]1. Field of Invention[0002]The present invention is directed to ball seats for use in oil and gas wells and, in particular, to ball seats having one or more fluid activated ball support.[0003]2. Description of Art[0004]Ball seats are generally known in the art. For example, typical ball seats have a bore or passageway that is restricted by a seat. The ball or drop plug is disposed on the seat, preventing fluid from flowing through the bore of the ball seat and, thus, isolating the tubing or conduit section in which the ball seat is disposed. As the fluid pressure above the ball or drop plug builds up, the conduit can be pressurized for tubing testing or actuating a tool connected to the ball seat such as setting a packer. Ball seats are also used in cased hole completions, liner hangers, flow diverters, frac systems, and flow control equipment and systems.[0005]Although the terms “ball seat” and “ball” are used herein, it is to be understood that a drop plug or other...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a ball seat with a housing and a seat inside the housing. The housing has a passageway and a chamber with a plug element support member. The support member has a retracted position and an extended position. The plug element support member provides support to the ball as it is pressurized. The plug element support member can be actuated by pumping fluid into the chamber, and it extends to provide support to the ball. This design allows for higher pressures to be exerted on the ball without exceeding its bearing or load strength. The apparatus can be used in frac ball systems or other applications where higher pressures are needed. The design also allows for additional contact area between the ball and the support member, reducing the likelihood of damage to the ball. The support member can be a ram or a piston with an engagement surface that matches the shape of the plug element.

Problems solved by technology

The ball, however, is typically formed out of a plastic material that has limited compressive strength.

This higher contact pressure has a propensity to cause the plastic balls to fail due to greater contact stresses.

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